Word of the Day: Waver
waver
wa-ver / wā-vər
noun
1. the act of vacillating back and forth
The walls were covered with thick, dark curtains that in the waver of the flashlight’s beam appeared almost, but not quite, black.
From “Windeye: Stories” by Brian Evenson, 1966 –
2. someone or something that waves or creates waves
Le Mans winner Robin Frijns was the one who came closest to hitting the flag waver, and he explained after the race how close he had come to making contact.
“Scare at Le Mans: Man waving chequered flag almost gets hit by car”, ‘Marca’, www.marca.com/en/more-sports/2021/08/23/61240b29ca474162488b459c.html, August 23, 2021
verb
1. to be unsteady and show signs of falling or giving way
Virtue that wavers is not virtue.
John Milton, 1608 – 1674
2. to move back and forth in an unsteady manner
The flag was seen to waver, then slowly bend over the staff and fall.
From “History of Kershaw’s Brigade” by D. Augustus Dickert, 1844 – 1917
3. to move in a particular direction in an unsteady or swaying way
He wavered down the aisle, noticing a red-haired woman reading the back of a bottle of skin toner.
“Untitled” by Nedelka Yearwood, ‘Sterling Notes Issue 4: The Afrofuturism Issue’, www.issuu.com/sterlingnotes/docs/issue_4_final/s/15760994, accessed June 30, 2022
4. to fluctuate in mind or opinion; to be indecisive or unsure; to vacillate
No man is able to make progress when he is wavering between opposite things.
Epictetus, 55 – 135
5. to be unsure and hesitant; to falter
We should ask God to increase our hope when it is small, awaken it when it is dormant, confirm it when it is wavering, strengthen it when it is weak, and raise it up when it is overthrown.
John Calvin, 1509 – 1564
6. to become distracted
When the mind wavers, loyalty sits light; love disappears; and faction begins.
Atharva Veda
7. to flicker or flash, as light
As he dropped the match to the floor, the candle wavered and died to a smoking ember.
From “The Hammer” by Vance Neudorf, ? –
8. to make a quivering sound
Matt Kenseth’s voice wavered, the emotion pouring out as the rain poured down on Daytona International Speedway.
Viv Bernstein, “Kenseth’s Drought Ends in Rain at Daytona 500”, ‘The New York Times’, February 15, 2009
